“Once I Started, I Couldn’t Stop”: My Mom’s Brilliant Refresh Ritual I Do Every Single January

I love cooking, but I’m often overwhelmed with all the planning required to keep a well-organized kitchen. In particular, my spice cabinet is a constant source of stress. I frequently find myself running out of commonly used spices, purchasing duplicates, or using ones that have lost their potency. 

This strain was actually making me not want to cook. Then I learned a simple trick from my mom. I started conducting an audit of my spice cabinet at the beginning of each year, and have been doing it (and then some) ever since. Here are my tips for going through your own spice stash.

A few years ago, while visiting my parents in India, I noticed a plain jar tucked away, labeled: “Kitchen Sink Mix.” I asked my mom about this mystery blend. She smiled and explained that it was her secret to a more organized and less wasteful kitchen.

Her ritual was simple: At the beginning of every year, my mom would conduct an “audit” of her spice cabinet. She dumped small, nearly empty jars into one large, labeled container to create a “kitchen sink” spice mix. She uses this blend on scrambled eggs, meats, salads, and even some quick Indian side dishes.

When I returned home to California, I decided to give it a try. I followed the same process of emptying bottles that had just a teaspoon or two of spices left into one larger container. Initially, sorting through the spices seemed like an added chore. However, after decluttering and consolidating, my spice cabinet already seemed more organized, which was immensely satisfying.

Just like my mom, I dumped all those remnants into a new container. When my custom “kitchen sink” mix was ready, I was admittedly a bit hesitant to use it at first. But once I started, I couldn’t stop. It became my fast, flavorful solution for weekly baked chicken dinners, my savory avocado toast, and even hearty winter soups.

Not only did this ritual help me sort out my spice cabinet, but it also gave me a custom “kitchen sink” mix that adds a fun twist to my cooking. Every year, this mix tastes different, which adds a delightful element of surprise.

The final step of this trick is crucial: Identify and discard any spices older than two years (which have likely lost their potency). Then, immediately replace only your top five most-used spices. Focusing on these guarantees that every meal you prepare in the new year is perfectly flavorful and prevents the needless expense and clutter of buying duplicates for every item in your spice cabinet.

It’s been three years since I started following this ritual, and my spice shelf is so much more manageable. In fact, now I look forward to January for my new “kitchen sink” mix. The beginning of the year is the perfect time for this ritual, as it often coincides with when I’m trying to cook more at home.

What’s your favorite spice to cook with? Tell us about it in the comments below.

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: “Once I Started, I Couldn’t Stop”: My Mom's Brilliant Refresh Ritual I Do Every Single January